Too Much Brutality

If our society has now come to the place in which the police have to fear people already in handcuffs, what's next?  As I read about tasers, and the seemingly indiscriminate way they are used, if I was in a large city, I'm not sure I'd ever want to leave the house.  I know I wouldn't have a clue who to call, as far as hoping for help.

Years ago, I changed lanes without signaling and saw the flashing lights in my rear view mirror.  I slowed down, but attempted to get past the exit ramp before stopping, so I wouldn't be blocking it.  That new law about leaving an extra lane on the right for law enforcement and emergency vehicles had just passed, so I thought I was being diligent.  Just as I got to the exit ramp, this wild cop car came circling around all the lanes, blocked me and he got out with his gun drawn.  My first thought was, "this idiot is going to get someone killed" . . . with my next thought realizing he was aiming his pistol at me.  He told me to put my keys on top of the car and keep my hands on the wheel.

The first cop that had flashed the lights, asked to see my driver's license.  I told him I'd have to take my hands off the wheel to get it.  He professionally told "Barney bad butt, to ease up . . ."  The gun went to his side.  As I handed the officer my driver's license, he asked me where I was going.  I told him I was on my way home.  He asked where I'd been, and I told him, synagogue.  You could see his countenance change.  He then, of course went back and ran my license, only to discover I was exactly who it said I was.  He brought it back to me, and ask I reached for my purse to put it away, he saw my badge.  That's right, those were in my Police and Fire Chaplain days.

He asked me why I didn't show him that to begin with.  I responded that he had asked for my license and if I had broken the law, the badge shouldn't change anything.  With that, he told me to have a nice evening, and signal when changing lanes.  He then told the other cop to let me through.

Now, for the truly frightening part of the story.  Before I'd gotten five miles up the road, the hostile officer had someone pulled over and it was clear by his body language, the interaction appeared to be less than cordial.  Now, thirteen years later, this is not only intensified with tasers and cavity searches, but in nearly every investigation of severe circumstances, this brutality is now simply policy.